Children’s Mercy reaches deal for 2027 ACA Marketplace coverage

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Children’s Mercy Hospital will be an option next year for families shopping for insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace after all.

The hospital said it reached a deal with UnitedHealthcare and will participate in its ACA Marketplace plans for the metro for 2027. The announcement expands coverage options for families who rely on the hospital for specialized pediatric care.

The announcement comes after Children’s Mercy said in October that it would not be included in any ACA Marketplace plans in 2027. The news concerned families whose children receive care at the hospital.

KCTV5 spoke with Kansas City-area parents Kasey and Tim Jackson, whose son Elijah receives cancer treatment at Children’s Mercy. The self-employed parents said they rely on Marketplace insurance and were worried about what losing in-network coverage would mean for their family.

“Just finding out at the end of October that you’re going to lose coverage on January 1st ... is just, it’s barbaric,” Kasey Jackson told KCTV5 at the time.

The hospital said it continues discussions with additional ACA Marketplace health plans about in-network access and will share updates with families. Families should check whether their specific plan includes Children’s Mercy and whether it meets their other coverage needs.

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage continues through Jan. 15, 2027. Families must select a plan by Dec. 15, 2026, for coverage to begin Jan. 1, according to Children’s Mercy.

The hospital said UnitedHealthcare and HealthCare.gov websites and provider directories are being updated to reflect its in-network status, so the change may not appear immediately.

Families can visit ChooseChildrensMercy.org for information about which ACA Marketplace plans are in-network or out-of-network with the hospital. They can also review the hospital’s FAQs.